Aging Gracefully in the Golden Years

By Jeff Hill, 9:00 am on March 7, 2016

The basics of aging well, such as eating right, exercising, and quitting smoking, are more or less common knowledge. However, sometimes the choices seniors make can have an impact beyond personal health and extend to how others view them. For reliable home care, Phoenix care experts suggest some lesser-known strategies your elderly loved one can apply today to gain an edge on aging gracefully.

Take Care of Mental Health

Too often, people focus on the physical aspects of aging gracefully, but the senior years are full of emotional experiences that may dredge up past hurts. If your loved one experiences sadness, anger, or frustration due to changes in his or her life, then the time for healing is now. A positive mindset sets the stage for enacting changes that can ease the aging process.

Choose Subtle Physical Enhancements

Seniors today are fortunate to have many products available to help soften the physical changes that occur with aging. However, trying to do too much too soon can come off as looking fake. Whether your loved one chooses to color gray hairs or is considering a wrinkle treatment, he or she should start with a conservative approach that allows his or her natural looks to shine through.

Limit Vices

Many habits people have enjoyed for years begin to catch up with them in old age. Smoking and drinking more than one or two alcoholic beverages a week are not only potential causes of cancer, but they both have dehydrating effects on the skin as well. Convince your loved one to quit smoking and limit drinking and he or she may see reduced fine lines and wrinkles throughout the senior years.

Build a Strong Support Network

Although illness and injuries can happen at any age, they become more likely later in life. Having a group of positive-minded people around can help your loved one prevent many common senior injuries and recover faster should he or she fall ill. Your loved one can start by making friends within the community and appoint a family member or hire a professional caregiver in Phoenix to provide assistance before a serious need arises. This way, your loved one can relax and enjoy growing older without worrying about the future.

Many seniors likely believe maintaining independence is another way to age gracefully. One of the best ways to do this is continuing to live at home, which can be made safer and more comfortable with the help of a professional caregiver. At Home Care Assistance, our caregivers can help with exercise, cooking, cleaning, mental and social stimulation, and much more. We also offer specialized Parkinson’s, stroke, and Alzheimer’s care Phoenix seniors and their families trust. Call 602.388.1085 today to learn more and to schedule your free in-home consultation.